House of Commons Hansard Written Ministerial Statements for 11 Mar 2003 (pt 2)

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Television Licence Fee

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell): On 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 35WS, the Government announed that from 1 April 2003, the fee for a colour television licence would rise to £116 and the black and white licence fee to £38.50. Later on today I will be laying before the House the regulations necessary to bring these new fees into force.

The new regulations also introduce preserved rights for beneficiaries of the Accommodation for Residential Care concessionary TV licence scheme whose accommodation ceases to meet the existing qualifying criteria, so long as it continues to be provided or managed by a local authority, a housing association or a development corporation.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Industrial Training Boards

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills (Mr. Ivan Lewis): In accordance with the Government's policy of conducting quinquennial reviews of all non-departmental public bodies, my Department is today beginning reviews of the Industrial Training Boards, CITB and ECITB.

Following Cabinet Office guidelines, the terms of reference for the first stage of the review will be:

To review the functions of the Boards, and the likely need in the future for these functions

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To consider whether some or all of the functions can be better performed through other means

To review the efficiency and effectiveness of the Boards in carrying out their functions

To consider the powers, terms of reference, constitutional status, membership and activities of the Boards

To ensure initial findings are available for consideration in and, if appropriate, incorporation into, the Government's Skills Strategy

To report the outcome of Stage 1 of the review by June 2003.

We should welcome comments on those matters to be covered by the reviews from all those with an interest in the work of the CITB and ECITB. Comments, which may be made public unless respondents specifically request otherwise, should be sent by 30 April to: Anne Donkin Department for Education and Skills E4c Moorfoot Sheffield S1 4PQ Or by e-mail to: anne.donkin@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

We have asked that this first stage of the review should be completed by 27 June 2003.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Water and Sewerage

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Angela Smith): Later today, I intend to launch a public consultation process on proposals for reform of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.

Since assuming responsibility for the Regional Development Ministerial portfolio, I have been acutely aware of the need for massive investment in Northern Ireland's water and sewerage infrastructure. Such a step-change in long-term investment can only be achieved through the development of secure, self-financing arrangements which also address the needs of the public as fairly and efficiently as possible.

In principle, this will require the introduction of domestic water charges in tandem with structural reform of the delivery of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland to ensure that people will not be asked

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to pay more than is absolutely necessary. I am committed to full and inclusive consultation through which I believe arrangements for the delivery of water and sewerage services, tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of the people of Northern Ireland, can be developed.

The Consultation Paper which I have published today sets out a range of possible options for domestic water charging. Possible structural arrangements for water and sewerage delivery and business models for a reformed Water Service are also outlined, along with the associated issues of economic and consumer regulation and mechanisms for consumer representation on water issues.

The period of public consultation on these issues will run until June 2003. Following a period of assessment of the responses to the consultation document, detailed proposals will be brought forward for further public consultation in the autumn, ultimately leading into the production of appropriate legislation.

Copies of the Consultation Document; "The Reform of Water and Sewerage Services in Northern Ireland" have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

WALES

Public Sector Ombudsman Services

The Secretary of State for Wales (Peter Hain): A consultation on the future of public sector Ombudsman services in Wales began in November last year when the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales and I published "Ombudsmen's Services in Wales: Time for change?". That document invited views on a proposal to bring together the offices of Welsh Administration Ombudsman, Health Service Commission Wales and the Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales to create a unified Ombudsman's jurisdiction for Wales, led by a single individual. We undertook to consult further on the precise remit of the new office if the principle of a single jurisdiction was endorsed.

I can announce that responses to the consultation have given the proposal for a single Ombudsman's jurisdiction in Wales almost unanimous support. We will therefore move later this year to a further round of consultation on the jurisdiction and powers of this new Office. Individual copies and a summary of the responses will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.